Disciplined Entrepreneurship Workshop

MIT Entrepreneurs:
If you’re currently launching a new venture, can you answer these questions?

Who are my customers – can I detail the “persona” of my target users?

What do I uniquely offer them that no one else does?

How do I best reach them?

If you and your team have trouble answering, don’t despair. This September, the MIT Club of Northern California is offering a practical, hands-on workshop series based on the ground-breaking book Disciplined Entrepreneurship, by Bill Aulet, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. As Bill says: "The single necessary and sufficient condition for a business is a paying customer."

We’ll help you answer these questions, and many more, in a series of four three-hour workshops that highlight Bill’s step-by-step approach. The book’s core principles are brought to life by way of case examples, including stories of successful MIT alums here in Silicon Valley – many told by the entrepreneurs themselves. Exposure to the network of local MIT startup heroes is an added benefit.

Startup folklore typically portrays new venture creation as a chaotic, hit-or-miss process, often driven by a charismatic founder. We propose an alternate view: that entrepreneurs are more successful if guided by a pragmatic, disciplined team approach – but one that still embraces creativity and urgency. This concept lies at the core of the workshop.

The central mission of the MIT Club is to educate, develop, and engage our area alums. In the spirit of MIT’s motto, “Mens et Manus”, this program will feature much more interaction than lecture. You’ll talk about your own experiences wrestling with the questions above and engage in lively discussions with fellow MIT entrepreneurs about their startup journeys.

Cost: Before July 31: $395 for first team member, $350 each for up to two more. After July 31: $495 for first team member, $450 each for up to two more.

By July 24, we'll let you know if your application has been accepted. Attendance is limited to ensure an interactive experience, so plan to apply early. Preference will be given to ventures with core founding teams in place

Entrepreneurship is both a mind-set and a skill set. As Bill says in his Sloan classes: “Successful Entrepreneurship = Spirit of a Pirate + Skills of a Navy Seal”. If you have the spirit, we can teach you the skills!